SpaceX CEO and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk delivered his final report and update on the agency’s mission as he prepares to step down after completing his 130-day term. Speaking at a special press conference alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Musk outlined his vision for the future of DOGE.
He reaffirmed his belief that the agency will ultimately succeed in its long-term objective to eliminate $1 trillion in wasteful federal spending.
During his time as a “special government employee,” Musk oversaw significant reductions to the federal workforce aimed at curbing government spending. While he initially projected that DOGE could trim $2 trillion from the federal budget, he later revised that estimate down to $1 trillion.
According to a CNN report, Musk further adjusted the target to $150 billion in savings for the current fiscal year during a Cabinet meeting in April 2025. Reflecting on his tenure as head of DOGE, he acknowledged that identifying meaningful budget cuts requires “a lot of hard work.”
“It’s just a lot of work going through the vast expenses of the federal government and just really asking questions,” he explained during the press event on Friday.
The billionaire also stated that he will continue to have a role, albeit as an adviser, providing President Donald Trump with support when needed. “I expect to continue to provide advice, whenever the president would like advice,” Musk went on to tell a reporter in answer to a question about what the future holds for him.
That led Trump to respond, “I hope so.” Musk added: “I expect to remain a friend and an adviser and certainly, if there’s anything the president wants me to do, I’m at the president’s service.”
The core mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is to streamline federal operations and eliminate unnecessary spending. Under Musk’s leadership, the agency terminated more than 10,000 contracts, 15,000 grants, and nearly 500 leases, generating an estimated $172 billion in savings.
One of DOGE’s key achievements was an initiative to audit unused government-issued credit cards across 32 federal agencies, resulting in the deactivation of 523,000 cards.
DOGE has come under intense scrutiny, with its aggressive cost-cutting approach drawing criticism from both liberals and some conservatives. Critics have accused the agency of overreaching its authority, particularly in its execution of mass layoffs and the dismantling of certain federal agencies.
